End-finding means for yarn handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A yarn end-finding nozzle mounted to be moved to and from the surface of the package on which an end is to be found and a yarn knotter, said nozzle being provided with a sensor adapted when it detects the found end within the nozzle to effect retraction of the nozzle to the knotting position for knotting and resumption of the winding operation.

United States Patent Abbott Aug. 28, 1973 [54] END-FINDING MEANS FORYARN 2,758,799 8/1956 Fiirst 242/35!) R HANDLING APPARATUS 3,030,0404/1962 Reiners... 242/356 R 3,168,257 2/l965 Perry 242/356 R Inventor:Samuel bbott, Wilton, NH. 3,203,634 8/1965 Pam 242/356 E ux Assignee:Abbo Machine Inc. Wilton, 3,563,478 2/l97l Bell 242/356 R N.H. PrimaryExaminer-Stanley N. Gilreath Filed! g- 1971 Assistant ExaminerMiltonGerstein 211 App] 17 132 Attorney-Sewall P. Bronstein, Robert T. Gammonset al.

[52] US: Cl. 242/356 R, 224422//33% [57] ABSTRACT [5 1 1 Int. Cl B65'h54/24 A yarn end-finding nozzle mounted to be moved to and [58] Field 636 39 from the surface of the package on which an end is to d' be foundand a yarn knotter, said nozzle being provided with a sensor adaptedwhen it detects the found 56] References Cited end within the nozzle toeffect retraction of the nozzle to the knotting position for knottingand resumption UNITED STATES PATENTS of the windmg operation. 2,704,4303/1955 Harris 57/345 X 20 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures I I 132 I18 134 l410 llb l H l I02 114 I no 06 12 41 K l l 100 -l04 H2 l Patented Aug. 28,1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

PRIOR ART FIG. lo

PRIOR ART Patented Aug. 28,1973 3,754,718

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

PRIOR ART 44 is; L!

FIG. 3

PRIOR ART Patented Aug. 28, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 28, 19733,754,718

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,718

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CLUTCH FIG. 6

PRIOR ART S FIG. 7

PRIOR ART FIG. 8

PRIOR ART END-FINDING MEANS FOR YARN HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION US. Pat. No. 3,168,257 discloses a winding machineembodying an end-finding nozzle of the kind with which this invention isconcerned wherein a nozzle is supported for movement toward the surfaceof the package on which yarn is being wound on the one hand to find theend of the yarn and on the other to present the found end to a knotter.The nozzle in the aforesaid patent is provided with flexible lips at itsentrance adapted by engagement with the surface of the package to loosenthe yarn end. In the aforesaid machine, the operation takes place withina definite time cycle with variations due to package size, a conditionthought to be somewhat disadvantageous for large packages which revolvea fewer number of times. A timing device was used to correct thissituation, however, this has the disadvantage that if the end is foundearly in the time cycle resumption of the winding operation iswastefully delayed by the timer. The present invention is designed toenable searching long enough to be quite sure of finding the end of anypackage regardless of size but only for as long as necessary to find theend and thereupon to stop the finding operation and start the secondportion of the cycle of operation, that is, the knotting and windingoperations, the advantage being that the searching operation is, thus,not bound to a specific time. By reducing the average time consumed forfinding, the capacity for the winding is increased and surfacedisturbance of the package is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As herein illustrated the finding nozzleembodies a passage and a narrow, elongated entrance opening incommunication therewith, the opening being of the approximate length ofthe package on which the yarn is being wound. The nozzle is supportedfor movement toward and from the surface of the package and from time totime, that is when the nozzle is moved up to the surface of the packagefor finding, a lower than atmospheric pressure is established within thenozzle to create suction at the entrance opening to draw an end into thenozzle. There are means effecting movement of the nozzle to and from itsfinding position and in accordance with this invention, sensing means isprovided exteriorly of the nozzle passage and rearwardly of the entranceopening thereto operable by the presence of a found end in the nozzlepassage to initiate operation of said means to effect retraction of thenozzle. The sensing means may comprise a photoelectric device from whicheminates a beam arranged to be intercepted by a found end within thepassage as the yarn is traverse within the passage. As disclosed thenozzle contains aligned openings which intersect the nozzle passage andthere are means for supporting adjacent the openings respectively a lampand a light sensitive cell.

Desirably to assist in loosening the end, a baffer is supported adjacentto the entrance opening of the nozzle, movable together with the nozzleto a finding position adjacent the package, the baffer being adapted tobe oscillated repeatedly to strike the surface of the package during thefinding operation. The baffer comprises an elongate element suspendedfor free oscillation while in the finding position.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe company drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic elevational view of a winding machine showingthe finding nozzle in its inoperative position;

FIG. la is a fragmentary elevation of the nozzle showing the air jet bymeans of which a subatmospheric pressure is created at the entrance tothe nozzle;

FIG. 2 is in fragmentary elevation to larger scale showing part of thelinkage for effecting movement of the nozzle into and out of operativeposition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken through the samevertical axis as FIG. 2 but looking from the left to the right in FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view to much larger scale showingthe relation of the finding nozzle to the package in its operativeposition with the nozzle sectioned in part to show the yarn situatedwithin the passage and to show the details of the sensing device;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the nozzle showing analternative arrangement of the sensing device;

FIG. 5 is a planned view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows the brake and brake actuating means forstopping the cam shaft during the end-finding operation and releasingthe cam shaft when the end is found;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the cam for effecting energization of thesolenoid by means of which the brake is applied;

FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates the timing switch employed in thecontrol circuit.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1, 4 and 5, the endfinding nozzle 10comprises a generally triangular transversely flat structure having atits wider end a transversely extending, narrow entrance opening 12 whichis substantially as long as the packageP on which the yarn is wound andat its narrower end a hollow coupling 14 by means of which it isconnected to a bag 8 for collecting yarn ends. The nozzle 10 issupported for movement toward and from the surface of the package on anunderlying mounting plate 16, FIG. 1, on which it is adjustableangularly to conform to various tapers of the packages of variousdegrees of completion. The mounting plate 16 is pivoted at 18 to theupper end of a lever 20, the lower end of which is provided with threearms 22, 24 and 26. The lever 20 is pivoted at 28 so that the pivotpoint 18 is movable arcuately about the pivot 28. The arm 24 of thelever has pivoted thereto at 30, one end of a lever 32 carrying near itsmiddle a cam follower roll 34 engaged within a cam groove 36. The otherend of the lever 32 is connected by link 38 to a pivot point 40 on anextension 42 which is rigid with the mounting plate 16 of the nozzle.

The lever 20 is provided with a hub 44, FIG. 3, carrying integrallytherewith a disk 46 adapted to be driven frictionally by a friction,driving disk 48 having an operating arm 50. A lever 52 is pivoted at 54to the friction disk operating arm '50. The lever 52 is urged by aspring 53 so that its left end abuts a stop pin 56 on the arm 50. Tomove the nozzle to end-finding position, the right end of the lever 52is raised by a lifter rod 58 which is operated by a cam 60 on ahorizontal cam shaft 62.'The driving connection to the nozzle 10,however, will yield when the nozzle meets the package because thefriction drive to the disk 46 can slip, thus, the nozzle will stop atthe surface of the package regardless of the size of the package. Thestroke of the cam 60 is made sufficient so that even with the longesttravel of the nozzle to meet the smallest package there would be someremaining stroke of the 'cam in the direction to continue raising lifterrod 58.

It is desirable that nozzle should not press hard against the packageduring the end-finding rotation of the package, but on the contrary, itshould move back a little so that its open entrance end is slightlyspaced from the surface of the rotating package. Accordingly a rod 64 isfirmly attached at one end to the lever 52 at 66 and carries a collar68. Near the end of the upward movement of the lifter rod 58, the collar68 strikes a fixed part of the frame causing the rod 64 to detain thelever 52 at the point 66. With the lever 52 detained at 66, further riseof the lifter rod 58 rotates the lever 52 in the counter clockwisedirection causing the pivot point 54 to be depressed and accordinglyrotate the friction disk operating lever 50 a little in the clockwisedirection and so retracting the nozzle away from the surface of thepackage.

At the finding position of the nozzle, a blast of the high-pressure airis admitted thereto through a jet 70, FIG. 1a, by a valve operated by acam on the horizontal cam shaft 62 to produce a subatmospheric pressureat the entrance opening to the nozzle to draw a found end thereinto. Thepackage P is driven in the reverse or unwinding direction during thefinding operation. In the patented machine, the nozzle is withdrawn bythe rod 58 being lowered by a cam 78 on the horizontal cam shaft 62, andif the end has been found during the interval, it is drawn into aposition to be taken by a knotter which is indicated generally at 80.The return move ment of the nozzle is limited to a definite positionadjacent the knotter by a shoulder on the disk 48 whichengages anabutment 82 on the disk 46.

Because this arrangement did not provide adequate time to find the endof large packages which turn a fewer number of times, the aforesaidpatented machine was modified to the extent of providing a timingmechanism for holding the finding nozzle at the finding position for avariable length of time according to the packaged size and thenwithdrawing it. This was accomplished by providing a solenoid operablebrake, FIG. 6, for stopping the horizontal cam shaft 62 for long enoughto find the end. The brake is operated when the end finder moves up tothe end-finding position by a cam 60, FIG. 7, on the horizontal camshaft 62 which closes a microswitch M1 in a circuit containing asolenoid S, the latter operating through kinematic connections 51 toapply a brake 53 to a brake pulley 55 which in turn, through a train,stops the cam shaft 62. When the solenoid S is de-energized, the spring59 pulls the brake pulley away from the brake thus allowing the brakepulley to resume rotation by engagement with the drive pulley whichrotates continuously. In order to hold the finding nozzle in a forwardposition for a predetermined variable time, a time delay switch T wasprovided comprising a time delay switch box supporting a track 13 fortilting upwardly as the finding nozzle was raised to the findingposition at an inclination such that a ball 15 supported on the trackwould roll down the track to actuate a switch M2 which, in turn,deenergized the solenoid and released the brake so that the horizontalcam shaft 62 resumed its rotation and returned the finding nozzle to itsretracted position. The delay could be varied by adjusting the angulardisposition of the track to change the time it took for the ball toreach the switch or by adjustable stops which limited the distance theball had to travel to reach the switch. This arrangement had theadvantage of being able to vary the time of finding, however, if the endwas found sooner than the period for which the finding operation was setresumption of operation of the winding operation was delayed by thedifference between the set time and the actual finding time. Inaccordance with this invention in order that as short as possible timebe consumed in searching for the end and having found the end to restartthe winding operation, sensing means 100, FIG. 4, is provided comprisinga light sensitive cell 102 and lamp 104, the sensing means beingsituated exteriorly of the nozzle, so as not to interfere with freedomof movement of the yarn in the yarn passage, in alignment with theopenings 106 and 108 at the top and bottom of the passage. Asillustrated the nozzle passage is generally triangular (swallow-tail) inconfiguration the wider end corresponding substantially in width at theentrance to the length of the package of which the end is to be foundand the narrower corresponding substantially in width to the coupling14. A portion 12a of the nozzle passage from the entrance l2 rearwardlyis uniformly shallow in depth as shown in FIG. 4, not much greater indepth than the diameter of the yarn and its is in this portion that theopening 106 and 108 are situated. Sleeves 110 and 112 mounted on abracket arm 115, FIG. 5, support the cell and lamp adjacent theopenings. As illustrated the beam from the lamp 104 passes through theopening 106 and through the opening 108 to the light sensitive cell 102uninterupted as long as there is no yarn present in the passage.Preferably the openings are located in the portion 12a closer to theside next to the larger end of the package. As the yarn end is drawninto the nozzle by the suction, its natural traversing movement, becauseof its disposition on the package, will move it transversely within thepassage until is passes between the openings 106 and 108, thus,intercepting the beam. Interuption of the beam effects operation of thesensing cell which, in turn, deenergizes the solenoid S therebyreleasing the brake whereupon the cam shaft resumes rotation and effectswithdrawal of the nozzle. The retraction of the nozzle at the end of thefinding operation, whether short or long, since most finding operationstake place rather quickly, reduces the average time consumed for thispurpose so that resumption of the normal winding operations can be hadmuch sooner than machines operating on a fixed cycle or with a timerand, hence, provides for more economical use of winding time.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4a the bottom of the nozzle at theinside may be coated with a reflective material 99 and the cell and lamp102 and 104 mounted above the nozzle so that the beam from the lamp 104passes downwardly through an opening 106 in the top of the nozzle and isreflected by the surface 99 back through an opening 108 to the cell 102.This construction has the advantage of mounting the photosensing meansabove the nozzle where there is more space thereby clearing theunderside of the nozzle and improving performance because of the factthat the yarn interupts the beam twice in each traverse.

At, thus, equipped the air suction alone is about percent effective onan average from 80 to percent. Desirably the suction may be assisted toafford more consistent finding by employing a baffle 114. The

baffer 114, FIG. 4, comprises a narrow, elongate blade 116 supported inpendulum fashion at its opposite ends between the lower ends oftransversely spaced rods 118--l18, the upper ends of which are connectedto a transversely extending spindle 120 supported in a horizontalposition above and parallel to the entrance to the nozzle between theupper ends of transversely spaced supporting plates l22-122. The lowerends of the plates 122l22 are secured to the nozzle support 16. An arm124 is clamped at one end to the spindle 120 midway between its ends andhas its distal end a fork 126. An electric motor 130 is mounted on thenozzle support having a drive shaft 132 to which is fixed a cam 134, thelatter being arranged to operate within the fork to effect oscillationof the arm 124. The tines of the fork are spaced apart a distance whichis greater than the diameter of the cam 134 so that the arm, whileoscillated by the cam, is free to turn relative to the cam and, hence,will not force the baffle against the surface of the package but willrather cause it to be swung pendulum-like to strike the surface of thepackage without applying substantial or static pressure to free an end.The freedom between the driver cam 134 and the driven fork 126 causesthe baffle to be swung freely against the surface of the package and,because of the proximity of the baffle to the center line of theentrance to the nozzle passage, there is little difference in the effectof the baffle between small and large packages. The force of the actionis determined by the speed and weight of the baffle and is constant forany given set of conditions. That is, once the momentum is under way,the freedom of action allows the same for all size packages. Optionallythe baffle may have a sponge, rubber face. The motor 130 is started by aswitch which is included in the circuit with the solenoid.

Although it is preferable that the baffle should be free, this is notabsolutely necessary.

A secondary advantage of the position 'of the baffle close to theentrance to the nozzle resides in the fact that it tends to increase theflow of air near the surface of the package which is ideal insofar asimproving the finding operation. Other advantages of this type of baffleare that there is no tendency for the yarn to wrap up as in the case ofthe revolving baffle; there is much less disturbance of the surface ofthe package and the baffle itself is cleared by that part of the nozzledirectly beneath it.

The finding operation is initiated as described in the aforesaid patentby engagement of a clutch which operates to effect rotation of thehorizontal cam shaft, the latter rotating only doing the findingoperation as described in that patent.

I claim:

1. ln a yarn processing machine, means supporting a yarn package,end-finding means comprising a nozzle embodying a passage and a narrowelongate entrance opening in communication therewith, said opening beingapproximately as wide as the package is long, means supporting thenozzle for movement toward and from a finding position adjacent thesurface of the package, means for at times establishing a subatmosphericpressure in the nozzle to create a suction at said opening, means foreffecting movement of the nozzle toward and from said finding positionand sensing means situated exteriorly of the nozzle passage rearwardlyof the entrance opening and intermediate the opposite ends of theopening operable in response to the presence of a found end within thenozzle passage to initiate operation of said means for effectingmovement of the nozzle away from said finding position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises aphotoelectric device arranged to intercept a found end within saidpassage as the yarn is traversed laterally within the nozzle opening.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle contains alignedopenings which intersect the inte rior passage inwardly of said entranceopening and intermediate its ends and said sensing means comprising alight source supported adjacent one opening and a light-sensitive cellsupported adjacent the other opening.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a portion situated inwardlyof the entrance opening which is uniformly rectangular in transversecross section and longitudinally tapers from a width corresponding tothat of the entrance opening to a substantially lesser width.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said photoelectric device issituated in that position of the passage of rectangular cross sectioninwardly of the entrance opening and intermediate the opposite sidesthereof.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an elongate bafflesuspended adjacent the entrance opening for free oscillation to and fromthe surface of the package while at the finding position and motordriven means operably connected thereto for effecting oscillationthereto.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a narrow, elongate, rubber,covered blade, a spindle, spaced posts fixed to the nozzle supportbetween which the spindle is journeled for rotation about an axis aboveand parallel to the entrance opening said spindle supporting the bladeadjacent the nozzle opening at the upper side thereof in relation to thedirection of rotation of the package, an arm clamped to the spindlehaving a fork at its distal end, and a motor mounted on the nozzlesupport having a drive shaft on which is fixed a cam, said cam beingoperable within the fork to effect oscillation of the blade.

8. In a winding machine in which there is means for winding yarn fromone yarn package to another and means for stopping the winding operationwhen the package from which the yarn is being unwound is exhausted orthe yarn becomes broken, finding the end of the yarn on the package onwhich the yarn is being wound, tying the found end and for resuming thewinding operation; a finding nozzle adapted to be moved from a retractedposition to a position adjacent the surface of the package and back tosaid initial position for tying, kinematic means operable to move saidnozzle to the finding position, retract it therefrom and initiate thetying operation, timing means for interupting operation of the kinematicmeans at the finding position to cause the nozzle to dwell at saidfinding position for a predetermined time and a sensing deviceassociated with the nozzle operable by detection of an end in the nozzleto disable said timing means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has top and bottomwalls, comprising spaced openings in the top wall and a reflectivematerial on the bottom wall at the inner side below said openings in thetop wall, and wherein the sensing means comprises a lamp and cellsupported above the nozzle in a position such that the beam from thelamp enters one of the openings and is reflected by the reflectivematerial through the other opening to the cell.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a baffle supportedadjacent the entrance opening to the nozzle passage and movable togetherwith a nozzle to and from said end-finding position adjacent thepackage, and means for effecting oscillation of said baffle at saidposition to repeatedly strike the surface of the package during thefinding operation.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a spindle, a narrowelongate blade suspended pendulumlike from said spindle situated aboveand parallel to the entrance of the nozzle, a motor-driven cam, andmeans operably connecting said cam to the spindle to effect oscillationof the pendulum-like supported blade.

12. In a yarn processing machine, a package of yarn and means supportingthe package, end-finding means comprising a nozzle into which an end isadapted to be drawn by vacuum action, means for moving the nozzle to afinding position adjacent the surface of the supported package on whichan end is to be found, timing means for causing said latter means todwell for a predetermined length of time at said finding position,andsensing means for sensing yarn operable when the end is found in saidnozzle to abort said timing means.

13. In a yarn processing machine, a package of yarn, and meanssupporting the package, end-finding means comprising an end-findingnozzle supported for movement from a retracted position to a findingpostion adjacent the surface of the supported package onwhich an end isto be found, kinematic means for effecting movement of the nozzle fromsaid retracted position to said finding position and back again, timingmeans adapted to cause said kinematic means to dwell for a predeterminedperiod of time at said finding position, and sensing means for sensingyam operable when the end is found in said nozzle to disable said timingmeans such that the kinematic means resumes operation.

14. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a yarn package and meansfor supporting the package, an end finding nozzle supported for movementfrom a retracted position to a finding position adjacent the surface ofthe package on which an end is to be found, a shaft operably connectedto said nozzle, means for effecting rotation of said shaft to effectmovement of the nozzle from said retracted position to said findingposition adjacent the surface of the package and back again, a brakeadapted to stop said shaft'when the nozzle arrives at said findingposition, a cam on said shaft operable to effect operation of saidbrake, and means for sensing yarn operable when an end is found in saidnozzle to disable said brake.

15. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a yarn package and meansfor supporting said package, a knotter, an end-finding nozzle adapted tobe moved from a retracted position adjacent the knotter to a findingposition adjacent the surface of the package on which an end is to befound and back to said retracted position; kinematic means operable tomove said nozzle from said position adjacent the knotter to said findingposition and back again and following such retraction to initiateoperation of said knotter, means for causing said kinematic means todwell at the finding position of the nozzle, and sensing means forsensing yarn operable by the presence of a yarn in the nozzle to disablesaid latter means so that said kinematic means returns the nozzle tosaid position adjacent the knotter.

16. In a winding machine comprising a support and a package mountedthereon, a knotter supported in spaced relation to the package, an endfinding nozzle movable from a retracted position adjacent said knotterto a finding position adjacent the surface of the package on which anend is to be found, kinematic means including means for reversingrotation of the package during the finding operation and following thefinding operation for tieing the found ends and resuming the windingoperation, timing means for causing the kinematic means to dwell at saidfinding position, means for drawing the yarn into the nozzle during saiddwell, and means for sensing yarn operable by the presence of an end inthe nozzle to disable said timing means and to enable said kinematicmeans to return the nozzle to its position adjacent the knotter.

17. In a winding machine, a package support, an endfinding nozzleadapted to be moved from a retracted position adjacent a knotter to afinding position adjacent the surface of a package on the support onwhich an end is to be found, said machine including means for stoppingthe winding operation and reversing rotation of the package during thefinding operation and following the finding operation for tieing thefound ends and resuming the winding operation; kinematic means operableto move the nozzle from its retracted position to said finding positionand back to its retracted position, a solenoid-operable brake operableto interrupt operation of the kinematic means when a nozzle reaches saidfinding position, a microswitch for energizing said solenoid, saidkinematic means being operable as it effects movement of the nozzle tosaid finding position to activate said microswitch, a timer switchoperable to deenergize said solenoid at a predetermined time, and asensing device for sensing yarn operable by the presence of an end inthe nozzle to de-energize said solenoid independently of said timerswitch.

18. In a winding machine in which there is a table on which arecircumferentially mounted a plurality of winding units on which aremounted packages of yarn and bobbins for winding of the yarn from thepackages to the bobbins, and means for moving the table to present theunits successively to a tending station where, if a winding unit is notrunning or if the yarn has been broken, the table stops to permitretieing of the broken ends or tieing the end on the package to an endon a new bobbin replacing the empty bobbin; a finding nozzle movablefrom a retracted position adjacent the knotterto a finding positionadjacent the surface of the package to find the end thereon, kinematicmeans for effecting movement of the finding nozzle to said findingposition adjacent to the package and back to a position adjacent to theknotter for tieing and resumption of the winding operation, timing meansfor causing the kinematic means to dwell at the finding position, meansfor creating a subatmospheric pressure at the end of the finding noz'zlewhile at said finding position, and sensing means for sensing yarnoperable upon detection of a found end in the nozzle to disable saidtiming means.

19. In a winding machine according to claim 18, a baffle movabletogether with the nozzle to said finding position adjacent the surfaceof the package and means for causing the baffle to repeatedly strike thesurface of the package at said position.

20. A winding machine according to claim 19 wherein the baffle issuspended for swinging movement close to the entrance to the nozzle andprovides at said entrance a restriction

1. In a yarn processing machine, means supporting a yarn package,end-finding means comprising a nozzle embodying a passage and a narrowelongate entrance opening in communication therewith, said opening beingapproximately as wide as the package is long, means supporting thenozzle for movement toward and from a finding position adjacent thesurface of the package, means for at times establishing a subatmosphericpressure in the nozzle to create a suction at said opening, means foreffecting movement of the nozzle toward and from said finding positionand sensing means situated exteriorly of the nozzle passage rearwardlyof the entrance opening and intermediate the opposite ends of theopening operable in response to the presence of a found end within thenozzle passage to initiate operation of said means for effectingmovement of the nozzle away from said finding position.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises aphotoelectric device arranged to intercept a found end within saidpassage as the yarn is traversed laterally within the nozzle opening. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle contains alignedopenings which intersect the interior passage inwardly of said entranceopening and intermediate its ends and said sensing means comprising alight source supported adjacent one opening and a light-sensitive cellsupported adjacent the other opening.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1comprising a portion situated inwardly of the entrance opening which isuniformly rectangular in transverse cross section and longitudinallytapers from a width corresponding to that of the entrance opening to asubstantially lesser width.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 whereinsaid photoelectric device is situated in that position of the passage ofrectangular cross section inwardly of the entrance opening andintermediate the opposite sides thereof.
 6. Apparatus according to claim1 comprising an elongate baffle suspended adjacent the entrance openingfor free oscillation to and from the surface of the package while at thefinding position and motor driven means operably connected thereto foreffecting oscillation thereto.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1comprising a narrow, elongate, rubber, coveRed blade, a spindle, spacedposts fixed to the nozzle support between which the spindle is journeledfor rotation about an axis above and parallel to the entrance openingsaid spindle supporting the blade adjacent the nozzle opening at theupper side thereof in relation to the direction of rotation of thepackage, an arm clamped to the spindle having a fork at its distal end,and a motor mounted on the nozzle support having a drive shaft on whichis fixed a cam, said cam being operable within the fork to effectoscillation of the blade.
 8. In a winding machine in which there ismeans for winding yarn from one yarn package to another and means forstopping the winding operation when the package from which the yarn isbeing unwound is exhausted or the yarn becomes broken, finding the endof the yarn on the package on which the yarn is being wound, tying thefound end and for resuming the winding operation; a finding nozzleadapted to be moved from a retracted position to a position adjacent thesurface of the package and back to said initial position for tying,kinematic means operable to move said nozzle to the finding position,retract it therefrom and initiate the tying operation, timing means forinterupting operation of the kinematic means at the finding position tocause the nozzle to dwell at said finding position for a predeterminedtime and a sensing device associated with the nozzle operable bydetection of an end in the nozzle to disable said timing means. 9.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has top and bottomwalls, comprising spaced openings in the top wall and a reflectivematerial on the bottom wall at the inner side below said openings in thetop wall, and wherein the sensing means comprises a lamp and cellsupported above the nozzle in a position such that the beam from thelamp enters one of the openings and is reflected by the reflectivematerial through the other opening to the cell.
 10. Apparatus accordingto claim 1, comprising a baffle supported adjacent the entrance openingto the nozzle passage and movable together with a nozzle to and fromsaid end-finding position adjacent the package, and means for effectingoscillation of said baffle at said position to repeatedly strike thesurface of the package during the finding operation.
 11. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, comprising a spindle, a narrow elongate bladesuspended pendulum-like from said spindle situated above and parallel tothe entrance of the nozzle, a motor-driven cam, and means operablyconnecting said cam to the spindle to effect oscillation of thependulum-like supported blade.
 12. In a yarn processing machine, apackage of yarn and means supporting the package, end-finding meanscomprising a nozzle into which an end is adapted to be drawn by vacuumaction, means for moving the nozzle to a finding position adjacent thesurface of the supported package on which an end is to be found, timingmeans for causing said latter means to dwell for a predetermined lengthof time at said finding position,and sensing means for sensing yarnoperable when the end is found in said nozzle to abort said timingmeans.
 13. In a yarn processing machine, a package of yarn, and meanssupporting the package, end-finding means comprising an end-findingnozzle supported for movement from a retracted position to a findingpostion adjacent the surface of the supported package on which an end isto be found, kinematic means for effecting movement of the nozzle fromsaid retracted position to said finding position and back again, timingmeans adapted to cause said kinematic means to dwell for a predeterminedperiod of time at said finding position, and sensing means for sensingyarn operable when the end is found in said nozzle to disable saidtiming means such that the kinematic means resumes operation. 14.Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a yarn package and means forsupporting the package, an end finding nozzle supported for movementfrom a retracted position to a finDing position adjacent the surface ofthe package on which an end is to be found, a shaft operably connectedto said nozzle, means for effecting rotation of said shaft to effectmovement of the nozzle from said retracted position to said findingposition adjacent the surface of the package and back again, a brakeadapted to stop said shaft when the nozzle arrives at said findingposition, a cam on said shaft operable to effect operation of saidbrake, and means for sensing yarn operable when an end is found in saidnozzle to disable said brake.
 15. Apparatus for processing yarncomprising a yarn package and means for supporting said package, aknotter, an end-finding nozzle adapted to be moved from a retractedposition adjacent the knotter to a finding position adjacent the surfaceof the package on which an end is to be found and back to said retractedposition; kinematic means operable to move said nozzle from saidposition adjacent the knotter to said finding position and back againand following such retraction to initiate operation of said knotter,means for causing said kinematic means to dwell at the finding positionof the nozzle, and sensing means for sensing yarn operable by thepresence of a yarn in the nozzle to disable said latter means so thatsaid kinematic means returns the nozzle to said position adjacent theknotter.
 16. In a winding machine comprising a support and a packagemounted thereon, a knotter supported in spaced relation to the package,an end finding nozzle movable from a retracted position adjacent saidknotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of the package onwhich an end is to be found, kinematic means including means forreversing rotation of the package during the finding operation andfollowing the finding operation for tieing the found ends and resumingthe winding operation, timing means for causing the kinematic means todwell at said finding position, means for drawing the yarn into thenozzle during said dwell, and means for sensing yarn operable by thepresence of an end in the nozzle to disable said timing means and toenable said kinematic means to return the nozzle to its positionadjacent the knotter.
 17. In a winding machine, a package support, anend-finding nozzle adapted to be moved from a retracted positionadjacent a knotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of apackage on the support on which an end is to be found, said machineincluding means for stopping the winding operation and reversingrotation of the package during the finding operation and following thefinding operation for tieing the found ends and resuming the windingoperation; kinematic means operable to move the nozzle from itsretracted position to said finding position and back to its retractedposition, a solenoid-operable brake operable to interrupt operation ofthe kinematic means when a nozzle reaches said finding position, amicroswitch for energizing said solenoid, said kinematic means beingoperable as it effects movement of the nozzle to said finding positionto activate said microswitch, a timer switch operable to de-energizesaid solenoid at a predetermined time, and a sensing device for sensingyarn operable by the presence of an end in the nozzle to de-energizesaid solenoid independently of said timer switch.
 18. In a windingmachine in which there is a table on which are circumferentially mounteda plurality of winding units on which are mounted packages of yarn andbobbins for winding of the yarn from the packages to the bobbins, andmeans for moving the table to present the units successively to atending station where, if a winding unit is not running or if the yarnhas been broken, the table stops to permit retieing of the broken endsor tieing the end on the package to an end on a new bobbin replacing theempty bobbin; a finding nozzle movable from a retracted positionadjacent the knotter to a finding position adjacent the surface of thepackage to find the end thereon, kinematic means for effecting movementof tHe finding nozzle to said finding position adjacent to the packageand back to a position adjacent to the knotter for tieing and resumptionof the winding operation, timing means for causing the kinematic meansto dwell at the finding position, means for creating a subatmosphericpressure at the end of the finding nozzle while at said findingposition, and sensing means for sensing yarn operable upon detection ofa found end in the nozzle to disable said timing means.
 19. In a windingmachine according to claim 18, a baffle movable together with the nozzleto said finding position adjacent the surface of the package and meansfor causing the baffle to repeatedly strike the surface of the packageat said position.
 20. A winding machine according to claim 19 whereinthe baffle is suspended for swinging movement close to the entrance tothe nozzle and provides at said entrance a restriction.